FOR SALE: £8.1m asking price for Blackpool’s historic piers

Both Blackpool’s Central and South piers have been placed on the market

Llandudno pier is also for up-for-sale by owners Cuerden Leisure

The piers, both constructed in the 19th century do not have listed status

Two of Blackpool’s world famous piers have been put up for sale.

Both the resort’s South and Central boardwalks have been placed on the market with a collective asking price of £8.1m.

South Pier, Blackpool

The historic attractions are two of three piers – together with Llandudno Pier in Wales – which are now for sale by owners Cuerden Leisure.

St John Stott, director at Cuerden, said the company was “restructuring its assets”.

Central Pier – home to the famous 108ft high Ferris wheel – and Blackpool South, which boasts a number of thrill rides, were all constructed in the 19th century.

St John Stott, said: “These assets are jewels in the crown of the UK’s coastline and we are delighted to offer them to the market either as separate lots or collectively.”

As profitable attractions, we’re confident this sale will attract major interest.

Richard Baldwin

They are now on the market with guide prices of £4.8m for Central Pier, £3.3m for South Pier and £4.5m for the property at Llandudno.

The Welsh boardwalk, which is 695 metres long (2,280ft), is the only pier which is Grade Two listed, meaning any future owners would require Listed Building Consent to make changes.

Blackpool’s Central Pier, which stands at 341 metres long (1,118ft), and South Pier, which is 150 metres long (492ft), do not benefit from listed status, despite opening in 1864 and 1892 respectively.

But Richard Baldwin, a director at Bilfinger GVA, which is selling the piers for Cuerden, said it would be very unlikely a new owner would make significant changes.

He said: “In order to sustain their value and ensure that value appreciated, they would not change dramatically under new ownership.

“In our opinion, the value is in the existing use and this is unlikely to change at either of the Blackpool piers.”

The Victorian piers, which were constructed using cast iron piles, steel frames and wooden decking, all boast amusement arcades and rides and generate a collective income of around £1.6m a year for Cuerden through annual concession agreements.

A spokesman for the National Piers Society, which promotes the preservation and continued enjoyment of seaside piers in the UK, said: “These piers are all in good order and trading successfully, and, given that Easter is almost upon us, I have no doubt that they will quickly find a buyer or buyers.”